PCHR
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

#1 Security Chaos and Proliferation of Weapons
Extra-Judicial Killing for Family Honor

Field Update
23 August 2006

A Woman Killed in Nusairat Refugee Camp Allegedly for the Protection Family
Honor

On Tuesday noon, 22 August 2006, a woman was killed in the central Gaza
Strip allegedly to protect family honor.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 13:00 on
Tuesday, 22 August 2006, Faiza 'Eid Abu Sawawin, 35, from al-Hasaina area in
the west of Nusairat refugee camp, was brought dead to the al-Aqsa Martyrs
Hospital in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. She was hit by several
live bullets throughout the body. According to sources of the
Attorney-General office in the central Gaza Strip, the victim's brother, who
is a member of the Palestinian Preventive Security Service and lives in the
southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah, shot her dead allegedly to protect his
family honor.

It is worth noting that killings committed allegedly to protect family honor
have escalated in the past two months. According to PCHR's documentation, on
9 August 200, the Palestinian police found the bodies of two girls in
al-Sawarha area, west of Nusairat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.
The two victims' brother shot them dead allegedly to protect his family
honor. On 30 June 2006, the Palestinian police took out the body of an
18-year-old girl from a cemetery in Rafah.

PCHR strongly condemns such crimes, and stresses that:

1) Such crimes constitute an attack on the rule of law;
2) They are a form of extra-judicial killing, and constitute a
flagrant violation of human rights, especially the right to life and the
right not to be subject to cruel and inhumane treatment; and
3) The Palestinian National Authority is required to take necessary
steps to confront this phenomenon through pursuing the perpetrators of these
killings, and bringing them to justice.

#2 Security Chaos and Proliferation of Weapons
Use of Weapons in Personal and Family Disputes

Field Update
23 August 2006

A Person Killed and 6 Others Wounded in Family Disputes in the Gaza Strip

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 17:00 on
Tuesday, 22 August 2006, a dispute erupted between the families of Madhi and
Abu Nusaira in Deir al-Balah town in the central Gaza Strip concerning the
ownership of a tract of land. The dispute developed and firearms were used.
As a result, 'Abdul Hakim Mohammed Abu Madhi, 35, was killed by a live
bullet to the head. Two other persons were also wounded:

1. Jihad Mohammed Abu Madhi, 30, wounded to the head; and
2. 'Emad Jouda al-'Adini, 30, a neighbor who attempted to stop clashes
between the two families, wounded by a live bullet to the head.

At approximately 23:00 on Monday, 21 August 2006, Nader Manar Sa'id Wadi,
26, from Khan Yunis refugee camp, was evacuated to Nasser Hospital. He was
wounded by shrapnel from a live bullet to the neck, when a gunman fired at
him in a family dispute, in which firearms were used.

At approximately 19:30 on Sunday, 20 August 2006, a quarrel among brothers
from the al-'Assar family in Nusiarat refugee camp escalated, and firearms
were used. As a result, Fadi Sabri al-'Assar, 26, was wounded by a live
bullet to the right foot; and 'Abdul Hamid Jamal al-Bayoumi, 25, a neighbor,
was wounded by a live bullet to the abdomen.

PCHR is deeply concerned over the continuation of internal violence,
including the use of weapons in personal and family disputes, which is
further aggravating the state of security chaos in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory. PCHR calls upon the Palestinian National Authority, represented
by the Attorney-General, to investigate such crimes and bring the
perpetrators to justice.

Public Document
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For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8
2824776 - 2825893
PCHR, 29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip.
E-mail: pchr@pchrgaza.org, Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org
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